Ship light



Patented Feb. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES -PATENT OFFICE SHIP LIGHT GeorgeChauncey Parsons, Long Beach, Calif. Application October 29, 1943,Serial No. 508,166

` 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in lamp and particularly relatesto improvements in ship lamps. 4

An object of the invention is to provide a simplified type of ship lampin which the lens of the lamp is retained securely but without beingsubjected to stresses that might tend to crack or break the lens.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ship lamp formed ofrelatively few parts which are readily produced and can easily beremoved and replaced when it is necessary to repair the lamp.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a ship lamp in whichthe lens retaining portions are integral with the cover and the base ofthe lamp and so arranged that the lens can be removed easily forcleaning or replacement.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of a typical form of ship lamp embodying the presentinvention.

Generally, lamps embodying the present invention are characterized by astamped or spun metal cover and base formed of a plurality of shellshaving inturned, grooved anges in opposed relationship for receiving andretaining the lens of the lamp. The grooves in the fianges preferablyare somewhat wider than the -th'ckness of the edges of the lens in orderto permit relative ex pansion and contraction of these elements withoutsubjecting the lens to excessive stresses. The base and cover of thelamp may be retained in spaced apart, and clamping relation to the lensby means of the rods which, together with suitably spaced rings, form aprotective cage for the lens.

The relationship of the lens, the base and the cover is such that thelens-receiving grooves can be provided with suitable render the jointsbetween these elements watertight to protect the light therein.

For a better Understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a view inside elevation and partly in vertical section of a typical form of shiplamp embodying thepresent invention.

The ship lamp chosen for illustrating the present invention includes abase I ll, a cover ll, a lens l2 there-between and a lamp base and sockt|3 mounted on the base I 0. The lens |2 is protected by means of a cage|4 interconnecting the cover Il and the base o.

The base n of the lamp includes two shells |5 and !6 formed, preferably,of sheet 'metal by gaskets or caulking to stamping, spinning or in anyother suitable way. The shell [5 is generally cup-shaped having a fiatdisc-like base l'l, a cylindrical wall portion |8 and a. radiallyextending flange IS at the upper edge of the wall portion l8.

The shell !6 has a base fiange 20 overlying the fiange |9 of the shell!5, a generally upwardly tapered wall portion 2l and an inwardlydirected fiange 22 provided with an annular groove 23 for receiving thelower end of the tubular "Fresnel" type of lens I 2. While a circulartubular lens is illustrated, it will be understood that lenses of othershapes may be used,` for example, square, triangular, or partiallycurved and partially fiat.

The cover Il of the lamp includes a pair of shells 24 and 25, preferablyformed of metal by stamping or spinning. The upper shell 24 i gen erallydome-like or concavo-convex and has a centrally located access openingwhich is Secured, by soldering or ternally threaded annular ring 21.

A U-shaped handle 28 for the lamp has its ends Secured ina disc-likeplate 29 forming a closure for the access opening 26. The plate 29 isprovided with a flange 30 overlyin the ring 21 and an internallythreaded collar 3| threaded into the ring 21. A gasket 32 may beinterposed between the flange 30 and the ring 21 to render the closurewatertight.

The shell 24 is provided with a flange 33 at its lower edge thatoverlies a similar flange 34 at the upper edge of the generally conical,downwardly tapering wall 35 of the shell 25. At the lower edge of thewall 35 is an inwardly directed fiange 36 having an annular groove 37therein for receiving loosely the upper edge of the lens 26 in its topin welding, an in- In order to retain the shells I 5, IS and the shells24 and 25 together and in retaining relationship to the lens !2, thecage !4 is formed of a plurality of vertically extending rods 38 havingthreaded end portions 38a and 381) that project through alignedapertures 39 in the fianges of the shells l5, I 6, 24 and 25. Thethreaded portions 38a and 38b receive the nuts 40 above and below theflanges on the shells and permit adjustment of the spacing of the base10, the cover ll, as well as clamping the fianges together. In order torender the joints between the flanges 18 and 20 and the flanges 33 and34 watertight, the ring gaskets 4l may be interposed between thefianges.

The lens |2 may be sealed in watertight relationships to the fianges 22and 36 by means of a packing 42 of a suitable caulking composition, forexample, litharge and glycerine, pressed into the grooves 23 and 31outwardly of the lens !2 or by means of a suitable gasket formed ofrubber or other comparable material (not shown) between the fianges 22and 36 and the ends of the lens 12.

The above described mounting for the lens afiords substantial protectionfor the lens 12 `and permits adjustment of the cover ll and base n toaccommodate their spacing to lenses of difierent lengths. More'over, acertain freedom 'of'expansion and contraction of thevarious' elements ispermitted, thereby relieving the lens of stresses that might cause it tobreak.

The lens l2 may be protected further by'means of the rings 44 of wire ormetal rod that are supported within the rods 38 bymeansof the clips 45,These clips include a center band portion 450, bent partially around therods 38 and end band portions 45b that are bent around'the rings 44 onopposite sides of the rods 38. If desired, the clips 45 may be welded orsoldered to the rod's`38 andthe rings 44 of the cage l4.

Thelig'ht source for'the lamp may be of any deslred type, for example,an oil lamp or an electric light. In the `form of the inventionillustrated, the ship lamp is provided with an electricbu1b"4'6`supported in the base and socket portion l`3. If lan oillamp isused, the base and socket portionls and the rbulb 48 are omitted and adetac'hable oil lamp and chimneyare .subst'tuted therefor and properventilating openings and a suitably'baffied flue are provided. The 'fluemay be mounted on or substituted for the plateZQ.

The base .andsocket portion !3 may include a cnp-shaped shell 41 tormedof i nsulating material,'having abase lange 4la that is secured to thebase ll of the shell !5 by means of *screws 48 or bolts. The socket 49for the bulb 45 may be of eonventional type andis secured to the top ofthe shell 41. .i

:The provision of the removable plate 29 for closing .the 'accessopening 26 .permits ready 'removal ;and insertion of the lamp bulb 46without takingdown the entire lamp.

The wiring forthe` socket-49 may pass through anlopening .inthe shell 47and a gland 50 in the wall la of the'base shell !5. The gland 50 ispacked to render it watertight 'so that leakage around the gland orbetween the gland 'and'the wiring is prevented. i

The lamp may be provided with lashing rings 5l, if desired. These rings-5l are retained on the lamp by means -of theu-clips 52 tstraddling theanges 9,-2o and the fianges 33-and 34. The

clips 52 have apertures therein for receiving the rods 38. The nutsengage the outer surfaces of the clips 52 and lock them in position.

The above described ship lamp is simple to produce, is sturdy, and theprovision of the separable shells making up the base and cover ll of thelamp permits the ormation of the inwardly projecting fianges forreceiving the lens l2. Inasmuch as the cover and base project outwardlybeyond the lens 12, additional protectionis affo'rded the lens and'additional space is provided to allow for relative expansion andcontraction of the parts. Moreover, every ele- :ment of the lamp can bedetached and replaced,

if damaged, without requiring replacement of other as'sociated,undamaged parts.

It willbe understood, of course, that the lamps can be modifiedconsiderably in the shape and size of the parts. Therefore, theabove-described embcdiment of the invention should be considered asillustrative'of the invention and not as limiting the scope of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. A ship lamp comprising a base having a bottom shell provided withsubstantially -flat, disc-like bottom, an upwardly extending annularsidewall and an outwardly extending flange at the upper edge of saidside wall and a second annular shell having an outwardly extendingfiange overlying the fiange on said bottom shell, an upwardly taperedside wall, and an inwardly extending flange at its upper edge; a coverhaving a dcme-shaped top .shell provided with an outwardly extendingflange at its edge and an aperture in its center zone, a detachable-closure member for said aperture, and another annular shell having an-outwardly extending ange unclerlying the fiange in said top shell, adownwardly .tapered side -wall, and an inwardly extending flange at itslower edge; a tubular lens i-nterposed between said inwardly extendingfianges; means forming grooves in said inwardly extend'ng flange forreceiving the ends of said lens; and means ext-ending through and'between the .outwardly extending flanges for clamping .said fianges ofsaid baseshells together, 'clamping the fianges ofsaidcover she'llstogether, and retaining said cover and base in spaced apart relationtoretain said lens in saidgrooves.

2. The shiplamp set orth in claim :1, in which said detachable closureis'provided with a handle for supporting said lamp.

GEORGE CHAUNCEY PARSONS.

